Pensioners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) male and  (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK in each year between 1997 and 2008; and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK in each year between 2009 and 2030.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question regarding how many  (a) male and  (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK each year between 1997 and 2008, and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK between 2009 and 2030. 1 am replying in her absence.
	Provided below is a table showing the population of state pensionable age for 1997 to 2030, for the United Kingdom, by sex. The figures up to and including 2006 are population estimates. The latest population projections are 2006-based and have been used to provide the estimated population of state pensionable age from 2007 to 2030.
	These figures are based on the state pension age applicable in each year so they take into account the forthcoming increases in state pension age.
	
		
			  Persons of state pensionable age( 1)  by sex—United Kingdom 
			  Millions 
			   Males  Females 
			  Population estimates   
			 1997 3.8 6.9 
			 1998 3.8 6.9 
			 1999 3.8 6.9 
			 2000 3.9 6.9 
			 2001 3.9 6.9 
			 2002 4.0 6.9 
			 2003 4.0 7.0 
			 2004 4.1 7.0 
			 2005 4.1 7.1 
			 2006 4.2 7.2 
			
			 Population projections(2)   
			 2007 4.2 7.2 
			 2008 4.2 7.3 
			 2009 4.3 7.5 
			 2010 4.4 7.6 
			 2011 4.5 7.6 
			 2012 4.7 7.5 
			 2013 4.8 7.4 
			 2014 5.0 7.4 
			 2015 5.1 7.3 
			 2016 5.3 7.2 
			 2017 5.4 7.1 
			 2018 5.5 7.0 
			 2019 5.6 7.0 
			 2020 5.7 6.9 
			 2021 5.8 6.9 
			 2022 5.9 7.0 
			 2023 6.0 7.1 
			 2024 6.2 7.2 
			 2025 6.2 7.3 
			 2026 6.2 7.3 
			 2027 6.2 7.3 
			 2028 6.3 7.4 
			 2029 6.4 7.6 
			 2030 6.6 7.7 
			 (1) Between 2010 and 2020, state pension age will change from 65 years for men and 60 for women, to 65 years for both sexes. Between 2024 and 2026, state pension age will increase from 65 years to 68 years for both sexes.  (2) 2006-based national population projections.